MLB Suspends Player Who Called Fan Anti-Gay Slur for Two Games

Will Donate Lost Salary to PFLAG

Major League Baseball (MLB) has suspended the Oakland Athletics’ Matt Joyce for yelling an anti-gay slur at a fan on Friday.

The announcement came Saturday following the MLB’s investigation, ESPN reported, further noting that Joyce’s salary for the games—more than $54,000—will be donated to LGBTQ-support and advocacy group PFLAG.

“It’s just one of those things that fans kind of get into [at] the game,” Joyce said following the his exchange with the fan in Anaheim. “Obviously, we’re pretty frustrated on our side, and I had just hit a ball hard and made Cron make a good play. I was walking back to the dugout and just had a fan yell some vulgar and obscene words.”

“For me it just wasn’t the right time to say some stuff like that,” he continued. “I fired back, and obviously, as soon as you fire back, you regret saying anything because it’s just not worth it.”

“The Oakland Athletics are very disappointed by the comments Matt Joyce made to a fan during the eighth inning of last night’s game,” the Oakland Athletics’ statement announcing Joyce’s suspension read.

“This language is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by our team. We pride ourselves on being inclusive and expect our entire organization to live up to higher standards. We appreciate that Matt is contrite about his conduct and know he will learn from this incident.”

As OutSports reported, Joyce also apologized via Twitter:

In regard to last night’s incident, I first and foremost want to sincerely apologize to the fans, the Oakland A’s, MLB and the most importantly the LGBTQ community for my comments and actions. A fan yelled vulgar and obscene words about me and my family and I let my frustrations and emotions get the better of me. I am beyond sorry for the inappropriate language that I used and understand and agree that those words should NEVER come out of someone’s mouth no matter the situation. Anyone who knows me will tell you that incident it is not reflective of me as a person, how I treat others, how I live my life and that those hurtful words are not my views. I fully support and hope to help the LGBTQ community with their efforts in being treated fairly and intend to let my actions speak louder than anything more that can be said about this truly regrettable moment.

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